messengers

Twitter launching music discovery app

CNET Update tweets to the beat:

Twitter is launching a new music service that will suggest songs to listen to based on accounts you follow or artists that are trending. As the world waits for the official launch, Ryan Seacrest seems to be enjoying it.

Android users can experience Chat Heads on the Facebook Messenger app, rather than download the Facebook Home interface.

Also in this tech roundup, I bring you the highlights from the DigitalFocus technology showcase, which includes the Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat, the Linkase Wi-Fi signal booster for smartphones, the new Duracell Powermat iPhone 5 wireless charging … Read more

Use Android? Get Chat Heads by installing Facebook Messenger

Facebook neglected to mention at its press event last week where Facebook Home was announced, that it would also update the Android version of Facebook Messenger to bring Chat Heads to all devices that have the app installed.

Chat Heads is a feature that allows you to access an SMS or Facebook Messenger conversation from any screen on your Android device by tapping on small circles that contain a profile pic of whoever it is you're conversing with.

There aren't too many Android devices that will be getting access to Facebook Home today once it's released in … Read more

Pidgin 2.10.7 Review

Pidgin is a multi-service messenger app that lets you chat with users from MSN, AIM, Gmail, ICQ, and more, all from a single app. Users can keep their modern clients but also keep in touch with their old-school friends and family who just refuse to get off AOL Instant Messenger and Yahoo Messenger. It also supports lesser-known protocols like Jabber, MySpace, and Gadu-Gadu.

Installation was pretty straightforward: You'll be taken through a series of standard confirmations for install directories and then be introduced to an initial setup process to have your accounts synced up. Unfortunately, at the time of … Read more

BlackBerry to shutter its BBM music sharing service on June 2

BlackBerry's BBM music sharing service will be no more.

As of June 2 the service will be shuttered, according to Mobilesyrup. BlackBerry sent out a mass e-mail to all of its BBM Music subscribers today informing them of the news.

Here's a portion of BlackBerry's e-mail, according to Mobilesyrup:

BBMT Music service will be discontinued as of June 2, 2013*. For paying customers, April is the last month that you will be billed. In May, as your BBM contacts stop using the service, songs in your playlists will begin to turn grey and will no longer be … Read more

Keep up with your contacts with Microsoft Messenger for Mac

Those using Microsoft applications sometimes have difficultly when using a Mac. Microsoft Messenger for Mac helps keep track of instant messenger communications while using a Mac OS.

Microsoft Messenger for Mac is available for download as freeware with no paid upgrades necessary. In addition to the fast download, the installer was well designed, getting the program loaded and running in under a minute. After we accepted the user agreement and signed in with an instant messenger username and password, the interface appeared just as it does on Microsoft operating systems. Even for those who are not familiar with the program, … Read more

Facebook adds VoIP to Android messaging app for Canadians

Facebook's Messenger app for Android will now include free VoIP calls for its Canadian users.

The social network added a minor update to its app today, bringing it up to speed with the iOS app. The company started testing the ability to make VoIP calls -- the same service Skype provides -- within its iOS Messenger app in Canada at the beginning of this year. Facebook added the feature to its main iOS app shortly after. The VoIP calls use your existing data plan to place the calls.

This latest update also brings changes to group conversations, including the … Read more

Make a free call using your iPhone and the Facebook app

Facebook recently updated the iOS app to version 5.5, which included the same free calling feature its Messenger app has had for a while now. As with the Messenger version, you're able to place or receive a call over both a Wi-Fi or 3G/LTE connection from your iPhone.

The option to place or receive a call is available only on the iPhone, not on the iPad or Web site.

As you can see in the video above, placing a call is simple:

Launch the Facebook app and view your Messenger contact list. Open a conversation with a … Read more

Microsoft fine-tunes shift from Messenger to Skype

Microsoft is moving ahead with its aggressive plans to move users on its Messenger instant-messaging service to Skype.

Late last year, officials said to expect Microsoft to retire Messenger in all countries in the first quarter of 2013 with the exception of mainland China. The new timetable is slightly lengthier, but not much.

Officials are now saying they plan to discontinue Messenger for a "test group" comprising about one percent of the installed base of "tens of millions" on March 15. Starting April 8, Microsoft will begin phasing out Messenger for the remaining users, starting with … Read more

Halo Zero LED messenger bag lights up the night

If you're a cyclist, you know it's always a good idea to sport enough lights that motorists can see you while you pedal away at night. This is where the Halo Zero LED messenger bag, a Kickstarter project, comes in.

Each handmade bag will be crafted by Rickshaw in San Francisco and is big enough to fit a 15-inch notebook. The bag includes two front pockets as well. Halo Zero's fiber optic LED light attaches to the front of the bag via velcro. … Read more